Street Motorcycle Kits

Street motorcycle myopia (nearsightedness)

The construction of a street motorcycle kit is romanticized by a lot of enthusiasts who shortly thereafter conclude that the operation is far too time consuming and uneconomical. Buying a stock motorcycle will cost you more up front, but the comfort of knowing the job was done professionally is worth a lot.

A bit on kits

A bike in a box, as the all-inclusive street motorcycle kits are referred to, is a relatively easy thing to assemble. Manufacturers selling street motorcycle kits boast a full week's worth of work and a standard tool set will do the trick. We tend to think it'll take a novice a little under two weeks, but the tools for a motorcycle kit are already in your garage.

If your selected motorcycle kit approaches $20,000, you may want to drop the 500 clams on a lift to make things easier. Mostly you need a good-sized space, reserved time (deadlines are a good practice), and the requisite humility to ask an expert when you're stumped. Assembling motorcycle kits is definitely about the process  however, your result is to ride it without worry.

Hit the books

Chances are, you aren't going to get away with a street motorcycle kit for under $6,000. Do the appropriate research before you commit. There are countless books, websites, and video presentations about motorcycle assembly and maintenance. A week's worth of studying will give you the know-how to seek out what you want  and to ask vendors precisely what's included in your street motorcycle kit. Most are complete, but kits without baffles, turn signals, or speedometers are not uncommon.

Some starter sites and software

Check out The-Hog-Farmer.net or Steel Thunder Custom Cycles (Steelthundercc.com). Each sell a great selection of street motorcycle kits with a variety of ways to upgrade. If you really want to learn the ins and outs before buying, however, get an idea from custom building software like Chop Shop 2.0. This program will give you an accurate idea of what skills you'll need and help you calculate a budget.